How are you today? I'm superfantastic.

Friday Love List: Leaving on a Jet Plane Edition

Look closely and you might notice a theme developing:

A whole week off school! And not a moment too soon.

Chocolate chip cookies that come out of the oven exactly the way you want them to (Sure, maybe yours always do, but I am not so good about turning on timers and/or remembering that there are cookies in the oven.)

A small suitcase to keep me from overpacking. Well, overpacking too egregiously.

The twitch I know I can cause in my mother by mentioning that I began packing at 10:30 the night before my departure

Eastern Market and its brunchy, farmers' markety, arts and craftsy goodness

Old friends

New friends

Tim Russert, may he rest in peace

Friday (Yes, I said in a Friday Love List that I love Friday. Ooh, meta. Or something.)

Crab cakes

Having time to read things of my own choosing

Getting to watch the Packers again next week

The Macy Day Parade

Turkey, stuffing, and potatoes

Pumpkin-intensive dessert items

H&M (Now with Jimmy Choo! I may soon be regretting that small suitcase!)

Not being in charge of middle schoolers for nine entire days

The way that all of this goodness kicks off today at 3:30. This Friday is even more lovable than most.

Good Stuff Tuesdays: I Have Talented Friends Edition

A fun part of Facebook has been finding out who friends from a long time ago grew up and turned out to be. Kristy, who was in colorguard in college with me, turned out to be a person with a very cool Etsy shop. She makes glass pendants, magnets, and push pins.

Here are some examples:

Some are pretty.

Some are funny.

Some are maps!

 

She really does have quite a variety.



Probably something for pretty much everyone on your holiday shopping list. You better get over there.

It matters to this one

He often comes to school dehydrated, especially after the weekends. He can't reach the drinking fountain because he's in a wheelchair. One of the assistants, who makes just above minimum wage, bought him a water bottle to take with him to his classes. The boy's parents are well-paid professionals. 

The school nurse bought him a Longhorns t-shirt to wear for college t-shirt Fridays. Nobody has ever received a gift with more genuine delight and appreciation. A t-shirt. 

Earlier this year, I had my students write in their journals about their most treasured possession. Most picked computers, iPods, or cell phones. This boy wrote about the SAPD baseball cap our school police officer had given him for his birthday the year before.

Last year, when we finished our workbook in English, he asked if we could have a party right then. I put on music and the kids hit a beach ball around the classroom. He said it was the best day of his life.

Public school employees cut his nails, wash his hair, and launder his clothes. They find a way to rig up the ripped wheelchair seatbelt that his parents don't replace. They push his heavy electric wheelchair around when it doesn't get charged at home.

He hugs us, kisses our cheeks, and tells us he loves us. And we tell him that we love him too. Because we do.

And that, not a test, not a program, not data collection, is how we make sure a child isn't left behind.